Norma stood at the ironing board in her bra and panties, carefully pressing Jason’s shirt. A thrill ran through her as she heard his heavy footsteps coming down the stairs.
Mornin’ love,” she said, her voice light with a smile. “Breakfast’ll be ready soon.”
Jason grinned, and she couldn’t help but admire how handsome he looked in his work clothes. He leaned in and kissed her cheek. “Thanks, babe. What’re ya doin’ today?”
“Just gonna run some errands,” she replied. “Maybe I’ll head to the library and find myself a new book. You got somethin’ goin’ on?”
“Yeah, goin’ to a meetin’ with the town council this afternoon. They’re lookin’ to expand the community center, and they want my input as a builder.”
Norma nodded. Jason always got involved in local projects and committees, trying to make a difference in their small town. It was one of the things she loved most about him. “Well, good luck. I’ll see you tonight.”
Jason smiled and kissed her again, this time on the lips. Her heart skipped a beat as his hands lingered on her breasts. She dropped the iron, and it clattered to the ground. Jason’s hands slid up her sides, caressing her soft skin. He kissed her neck, and a thrill ran through her body. She grabbed his shirt and tugged him closer, her desire like a raging fire.
Jason lifted her into his arms and carried her up the stairs, never breaking their passionate kiss. They arrived in the bedroom and he laid her on the bed, his lips still exploring her body. She felt the cool sheets under her and sighed, her chest heaving gently. He stripped off her underwear and revealed her toned, glowing skin. Her small, useless penis lay between her legs, forgotten and unacknowledged. 
“Fuck, you’re beautiful,” he whispered as he moved up over her, his own cock hard and ready. His lips met hers again and she wrapped her legs around his waist.
As they made love, Norma had to remind herself that, once upon a time, their love would’ve been abhorrent to her; there was a time when she never imagined having sex with a man, let alone as a woman. But now it felt natural and right.
“I love you,” she whispered, her voice heavy with passion.
“I love you too, baby,” he replied, his hands tightening on her body.
He entered her and she moaned as their bodies became one.
A wave of emotion washed over her. She felt safe in his arms. Ten minutes later, as she watched Jason leave for work, her mind wandered back to the old days. Norma hadn’t existed yet; there’d only been Norman. 
Norman had a simple life in his small Midwest town. He was the top dog, the one who called the shots. Norman had always been a runt, but he didn’t need no brawn to show his power. It was all in his confidence.
“I’m the king of this place,” he’d say. “I’m the master of my own domain.”
And for years, Norman had it pretty dang good. Everybody respected him, he had a tidy life, and he ran the show. But everything changed when Jason showed up.
Jason was a strapping fella, with broad shoulders and looks that’d make any lady swoon.
“I was tired of the city and all the hustle and bustle,” Jason had said. “Thought this town would be a good place to start fresh.”
Norman could see right away that Jason differed from the other fellas in town. He had a way of talking, a sense of purpose, and just plain charm. Norman was used to being the big cheese, but Jason commanded respect without even trying. Worse, they kept bumping into each other at the hardware store or the grocery store. Jason was moving in on his turf!
“This town ain’t big enough for the both of us,” Norman said, trying to sound tough. “You best watch yourself around here, boy.”
Jason grinned. “That right? Well, I ain’t one to back down from a challenge. You may be the king of this town, but that don’t mean you own it.”
Norman bristled. “I don’t need to own it. I just need to keep things in order with me at the top.”  “Maybe you need to loosen your grip a little,” Jason said. “Let other people have their say. You might be surprised at what you learn.”  There was something different about this new fella that he couldn’t quite put his finger on it—must’ve been respect, mixed in with jealousy. Yeah, that had to be it. What else could it be? One night at the local watering hole, Norman had a little too much to drink. He saw Jason sitting at the bar and couldn’t resist the urge to confront him. “What’s your game, city boy?” Norman slurred, his breath reeking of whiskey. Jason stayed cool. “I don’t have a game, Norman. I’m just trying to make a life for myself, like everyone else.” For some reason, Jason’s calm reply was like a bomb going off in Norman’s head. “You ain’t making no life here! You think you’re better than me? Well, I’m not gonna take it!” Before he knew it, Norman was swinging a pool cue at Jason’s head. But Jason was faster, and with effortless grace, deflected the blow and in one swift motion, took Norman down to the floor and pinned him there.  The room went silent as the two men stared into each other’s eyes. Norman could feel the tight grip of Jason’s arm, and a sense of resignation washed over him. He knew he’d been beaten. 
“You’re a fool,” Jason said, his voice low and dangerous. “I tried to be your friend, but you were too prideful. Now you need to learn your lesson a different way.”
“I’m calling the sheriff!” one of Norman’s former friends yelled, pulling out his cell phone.
Norman sat in the back of the police car, hands cuffed behind him, seething with anger and humiliation. Rage boiled inside him. How had things gone so wrong? He’d let his jealousy and pride get the best of him.
When the sheriff pulled up to the station, there was Jason, arms crossed, chillin’ by his truck. “I’m here to bail him out, Mike,” he said to the deputy.
“Bail him out? Didn’t he attack you?”
“Yeah, but he didn’t do no harm. Check out them noodle arms of his. I got this, don’t worry.”
The deputy hesitated, but after the money was put down for the bond, he let him free. Norman couldn’t believe his luck. He’d been sure he’d be spending the night alone in a steel cage, but here was Jason, giving him a way out.
“You’re coming home with me, Norm,” Jason said, smiling.
“I am?”
“Hell yeah! That bond was expensive as hell. You think I’m gonna take a chance on losin’ it if you take off?” He opened the door. “Get in.”
They drove in silence to Jason’s house, a modest two-story building on the outskirts of town. Norman hadn’t been there before, but he’d heard rumors that Jason had built most of the furniture himself.
Jason led Norman to the guest room, well-furnished with a comfortable bed, dresser, and a soft rug that tickled his toes. The room smelled faintly of lavender, and a sense of peace washed over Norman.
But then Jason dropped the bombshell.
“I’ll press the sheriff to drop the charges against you, but you’re gonna stay here with me for a while.” Jason’s voice was low and serious. “Maybe a long while.”
Norman was taken aback. “What? Why?”
“Because you need to learn some humility. And because, unlike most of the people in this town, I actually think you might have something to offer.”
Norman didn’t know what to say. Live with his rival? Hell, that was the last thing he wanted! But Jason was offering a way out of his problems, and he didn’t know what else to do.
For a few days, everything was normal. Jason would go to work, and Norman would sit around playing video games and browsing the internet. Then, Norman’s life took a drastic turn.
“Put this on,” Jason said, shoving a silk garment into Norman’s chest.
“What the hell is it?”
“It’s a dress,” Jason said, tone matter-of-fact. “I think it’ll suit you.”
Norman shook his head in disbelief. “I ain’t wearing that. It’s ridiculous.”
Jason smiled, unfazed. “Suit yourself. Guess I won’t be dropping the charges against you then.”
Norman’s heart sank. He had no choice but to put on the dress. It was tight and uncomfortable, and he felt ridiculous. But as he walked around the house, he couldn’t deny that it also felt...nice. The silk was soft against his skin, and the light material fluttered with every step.
“I was right,” Jason said, watching Norman saunter around the house. “It does suit you.”
The pills came a couple weeks later.
Norman was shocked when Jason handed him the small bottle of pills. “What’s this?” he asked, confused.
Jason smiled. “Estrogen. It’ll help you become who you’re meant to be.”
“Meant to be? You think I was meant to be a girl? That’s insane!”
Jason shrugged. “I call it like I see it. And I see a beautiful woman inside of you, just waiting to burst out like a...a...hell, I ain’t no good with metaphors. But you get what I mean. All that posturing from before? That was just a mask to cover up who you really are, and it’s time for you to embrace your true self.”
Norman stomped his foot and scowled. In the dress he was wearing, he doubted Jason would take him seriously but he had to make a case for his masculinity. “The real me is an alpha male, not a weak woman! Everything was fine until you came along!”
“Why ‘weak?’” Jason asked, leaning back in his chair. “Women are just as strong as men. Stronger, in lots of cases. Anyway, the truth is, there ain’t no such thing as an alpha, Norm. I ain’t better than you, and you ain’t better than me. We’re all just people, trying to make our way in the world.”
“But...But you’re everything I want to be,” Norman stammered.
Jason shook his head. “Nah. Maybe you see in me what the world says is success, but there’s more to life than that. I had success in the city, and what’d it get me? Heartbreak, loneliness, and an empty life. You’re trying to reach for something that doesn’t exist, Norm” Jason handed Norman the pills again. “Try ‘em for three months, that’s all I’m asking. If you don’t like them, you can go back to being an ‘alpha,’ whatever that means. Ain’t nothing permanent gonna happen in three months. I’ll give you room and board, even. All I ask is that you help keep house. I ain’t good with that stuff.”
Norman stared at the bottle of pills, his eyes flicking back and forth to Jason’s expectant gaze. What choice did he have? He had no money, no prospects, and no way out of the town. Anyway, living with Jason beat living in a jail cell.
He sighed and grabbed the bottle. “Fine. But only for three months.”
Jason smiled. “That’s all I ask.”
Three years later, Norma was a different person. The estrogen had unlocked something inside her, and as her body started to change the disgust she’d expected to feel didn’t materialize. Instead, she felt liberated. To pay Jason back for his insight, she continued to help around the house. They’d grown closer and closer, until—perhaps inevitably—they’d started dating.
Norma smiled to herself as she finished ironing Jason’s shirt. Sure, it had been a long and strange journey, but it’d been worth it. She was living a life she never could’ve imagined, but it had been the best decision she’d ever made. She wasn’t the king of the town anymore, but being Jason’s queen was way, way better.